Fish ID - & Southport Post (Monday 17th 2006)

[Dirty]

Hi there Ausfishers!!!

Went back to 'the spot' got there at 8:30am and called it a day by 4pm. Fished with my uncle, who lives and fishes that area often enough, after about an hour he was convinced that the fish were off the bite until the turn of the tide. It turned out to be true, however even with a burley bomb... the fish weren't as proliic as last time, they were there but this time they were more sensitive to movement and shawods. I suspect these fish feed on the scraps and possibly will hit unwighted baits, however there wasn't much on the chew.

The first little fella to surface was a cod (realeased unharmed) of some discription, and rather than look for it myself, I suspect that you guys could ID it in a jiffy, so anyhelp on the specifics would be appreciated. Then it was slow and I needed about 7 Heinikens and a little Stones Ginger Wine to bring me luck...nothing little pecks here and there. Then a couple of bream took my chicken thigh and a flounder soon follow, they were babies in my opinion, but still legal. I ended up giving these to my uncle, no pictureres...because I was hopeing I would catch more.

Just before I called it a day, I caught this other fish, on a tiny piece of baby octopus, again I have no idea what this fish is, so I took a photo and handled the sucker carefully before removing the hook and watching it swim away to freedom.

Oh well, nothing lost, still managed to relax, and learn a thing or two about the theories in my head!

George.

[Dirty]

The 'Cod' .... I think?

[Dirty]

The 'Rubbish Fish' or whatever it may be.... eheheh sorry everything has it's place and its reason!

[haybii]

that second one my friend is a "happy moment".. tastes good but if u get hit by those spines man they hurt for ages!

[jeffo]

cod looks like a blue mourie (spelling?) to me.

[straddie]

Heya Baby Bream

Haybii is right the second is a happy moment, they come in a range of colours but all have that exact same shape. One you should definately avoid being stung by. The second I don't know

[shandos]

I have seen happy moments sold whole in fish shops labeled "black trevelly". If you get stung I have been told it is best to immerse the hand in hot water as this causes the venom to degenerate.

Paul

[Dylan_Rylatt]

the first is definatly some type of cod... prolly a endangued one i'm guessing i could be wrong tho

Dylan

[shandos]

I am pretty sure it is a purple cod sometines called a blue maori (as posted by jeffo) The body colour can range from pale lilac to deep purple to blue grey and is covered with black dots (Grants guide)

Paul

[serene_lady]

I would have to say the first is a juvenile Blue Mourie, no 2, happy moment which you dont have if you get stung. Bob.

[T1]

Definitely Happy Moment (Black Trevally). Have been told by an old timer that if you get stung by one, pee on the affected area and it eases the pain (deadset serious folks). Can't say i have been stung and tried but a mate did and he admitted it eased the pain a little...

Take Care T

[mjc85]

I have seen happy moments sold whole in fish shops labeled "black trevelly". If you get stung I have been told it is best to immerse the hand in hot water as this causes the venom to degenerate.

Paul

Thats what they say, i got stung about 2 weeks ago from a happy that i caught in my cast net. I submersed my finger in hot water and left for a few mins and it did nothing. The only thing that stopped it from hurting was in a glass of water with a heap of ice.

It was a real bad throbbing pain which i would've said was close to being as painful as dislocating my shoulder. To get to sleep i had to wrap my finger in a face washer with ice in it and put elastic bands on it.

Just don't get stung lol

[BrandonH]

mjc85 if you left your hand in the hot water for a few minutes it wasn't hot enough!! its got to be just bearable. Placing the infected area in for a few seconds and then out and back in is better than not hot enough. I have been stung by a few happymoments and fortascue and stingrays and catfish and butterfish worst of the lot.... Fortiscue for sure (unless got good by a big ray, I have only been grazed), my whole arm wouldnt' stop shaking once after a fortiscue was hideing in my net. I got 2 spines broken and lodged in my thumb and two punchtures.. not fun

I have never seen a one of those cod they look like one of the real bright cod that you catch on the reefs up north.. nice catch

Cheers
Brandon...

[ratherbefishin]

Agree with the ID of the Happy Moment, not sure about the peeing idea, but I can say I have been stung by one before and heat works. I'm not sure how many spines they have but they definitely have one on the belly. The toxin breaks down with heat and the greater the heat the faster it breaks down (and the pain goes away). The difficulty is that the affected area usually becomes rather numb and is unable to determine how much heat is too much. I suggest that if stung you put your opposite body part (eg left hand if right hand is stung) into the water and add hot water until it is just bearable, then put the affected body part into the hot water. It will probably take 2-3 hrs to dissipate the toxin if you dont apply heat and this can be reduced to 1/2 - 1 hr with heat.

I know a person who applied too much heat (complained to the nurse but was told that doctor knows best) and ended up losing a finger (from the heat not from the toxin).

Best bet is dont get stung, I can tell you it aches like a b@s$5^!!!

Sorry, don't recognise the 'cod'

[White_Steenbras]

Yup a Happy Moment, why is it not rather called an unhappy moment...especially if you have to ALLEGEDLY PEE on your hand, ha ha.

I don't know about that one T?